Ricky-Tick Big Band is a young and ambitious group named after the successful Helsinki-based record company, Ricky-Tick Records, and led by guitarist-composer Valtteri Pöyhönen, formerly known from the classy sextet, Dalindèo. The group consists of a number of Finnish jazz musicians from the new generation, some of whom rising, while many have already gained some international renown, such as saxophonist Antti Hynninen, trumpeters Jukka Eskola and Kalevi Louhivuori, drummer Jaska Lukkarinen and bass player Antti Lötjönen. The members also include one of the most distinguished Finnish saxophonists of all time, Antti Sarpila, whose presence brings some experience to the young group.

Yesterday and today go hand in hand in Ricky-Tick Big Band’s music. The band’s musical style could be described as energetic and fiercely groovy contemporary big band jazz. However, the classic swing music acts clearly as a source of inspiration for Pöyhönen’s compositions. The group’s self-titled debut came out in May 2010, and the widely acknowledged sophomore album, featuring the top three of Finnish rap artists, Paleface, Redrama and Tommy Lindgren, was released in spring 2013.

ed. Annamari Innanen 21.2.2014